Author: Nancy

An investment strategy can be defined as a stratagem or approach that will help an investor select an investment opportunity (read stock) that has a good return on investment, or one that has proven to be a good investment opportunity. While most of the investment strategies for beginners will focus on tried and tested methods that have worked for others, by the end of the day, it always boils down to what the beginner investor can be able to work with to diversify their investment portfolio.

It is therefore correct to say that the many different investment strategies would cater to different investment needs. Some of the most notable investment strategies for beginners include:-

Define your Short term and long term Investment Goals

You cannot just wake up one day and decide that you want to start and grow an investment portfolio. You will need to sit down and do a critical investment goal analysis. This will help you determine the most ideal investment vehicle to board before you get started. With clearly defined short-term and long-term investment goals, you can then proceed to the next critical step and strategy for a beginner investor.

Choose an Investment Vehicle

Again, this is where you will need to sit down, armed with a list of your investment goals, and find an investment vehicle that will help you meet both your short-term and long-term investment goals. The best way to go about this point is to first decide on the type of investment that you want to do. You can decide to open a brokerage account, stocks and bonds, a college savings fund, 401Ks plans, IRAs, all these are investment vehicles that can help you achieve your investment goals. It is advisable that you only invest in something that you clearly know and understand. Thanks to the internet, you can be able to research and get useful information on a particular investment vehicle before you commit yourself.

Create your investment budget

Just like when doing your basic shopping at home, the only way you can get the most out of your investment is to create and set a budget for investment. How much money are you willing to invest in the stock market? This can help you determine the amount of money that you can afford to lose should the investment vehicle you choose fail you, as it sometimes will. Remember that an investment of any form is a risky venture, so you need to take your time to determine the amount of money that you can afford to lose without throwing you off balance.

Open a Separate Investment Account

After you have everything set and ready, it is time to open a separate investment account so as to keep good track of your investment portfolio. Besides, some investment vehicles, such as a 401K plan, or an IRA plan, is mandatory to have an account. Opening such an account is often a simple process that involves providing your personal information, signing an application form and transferring your allotted budget.

Learn about Investments

In order to diversity your investment portfolio and become a force to reckon with, you will need to take your time to learn as much information as you possibly can in regards to investments, especially on the investment vehicle that you have chosen.

This article has been written by Denis who is a contributor for where you can get some useful resources on ppi claims companies.

Occurrence of disputes during the course of business operations is accepted as normal and considered a part of business. Nevertheless, there could be times when you might require taking up legal services for the settlement of these disputes. Business legal fees could be very steep at times making it difficult for small business owners to use such services. However, there are ways by which you can save money on the business legal fees. Some of these tips are as follows:

Choice of attorney

It is very essential to choose the right attorney for your case. Lawyers specialize in different areas of law and therefore, you should choose a lawyer who is adept at handling business related cases. Taking recommendations from friends, peers and relatives is the best way to find the relevant lawyer. The choice of lawyer should be done after much contemplation and research as this could mean saving money on your legal fees. You should remember that the flashiest or the most advertised might not be the best lawyer for your case.

Comparison

To get the best deal for your legal requirements, the most appropriate way is to compare the services and rates of various lawyers. After following the recommendations of your friends and relatives, you can shortlist a few lawyers, visit them and get quotes for your case. After comparing the services offered and the rates charged, you can come with the best deal. You should certainly be aware of the technicalities in your case so that you may find the most suitable lawyer for the job.

Do your research

Several procedures and processes during the course of a legal settlement are such that they can be handled by an individual. Therefore, instead of assigning these tasks to the lawyer, it is better to do them your self. This would save you money as they would have otherwise been billed by the lawyer. It is also essential to provide the lawyer the required information and documents so that there is no unnecessary delay or extra work involved.

Communication

If you are being billed by the hour, then you must be very careful about the way you communicate with your lawyer. Instead of going in for long talks and beating around the bush, keep your conversations short and to the point. In addition, you should not call the lawyer several times a day but make a list of your queries and get the queries cleared in a single call. This would save you considerable money over a short amount of time.

Negotiation

You can certainly save money on the business legal fees by negotiating with your lawyer. Instead of accepting billing by the hour, you should go for a flat fee. You should insist on getting the fee agreement in writing, so that there are no issues later. You may ask your lawyer about the cost of additional tasks that might come during the course of settlement. Ensure complete transparency as far as fees are concerned.

These tips can certainly help you get the best lawyer suited for the legal settlement of your case and save you money on the legal fees as well.

Sara Muler from loansforpeoplewithverybadcredit.net provided us with this free finance content.

If you are chosen for an IRS tax audit, then there is nothing you can do to avoid it. The important thing is that you know what to expect, and that you keep one specific goal in mind: to end up owing the IRS as little money as possible. How do you do this? By complying, first of all, but also by doing everything you can to ensure you don’t trigger the IRS to investigate any items outside of the original causes for audit. Being audited can be a scary prospect; fortunately, there are things you can do to make it as smooth a process as possible, so as to protect your money and your sanity. Here are five tips for surviving an IRS tax audit.

Watch what you say. Do not provide any information other than exactly what was asked of you. Use yes and no answers any time possible. If you are not sure about something, tell you auditor you don’t know. Talking too much can cost you a lot of money. Giving false information, on the other hand, can cost you even more money, and possibly even jail time.

Organize your records. You aren’t expected to keep perfect records, but you are expected to have accurate and comprehensive records. Take your time preparing for your audit, and bring everything you have to support your story to the table. Showing up organized is a sign of respect, and a great way to get on the auditor’s good side from the get-go.

Act natural. This may seem like an oxymoron, but when you’re nervous (which you likely may be when dealing with an auditor), your mannerisms may betray you. Remember that auditors are trained to monitor behaviors for anything unusual, and the last thing you want to appear to be to an auditor is deceptive. Take a few deep breathes, relax, and just be yourself.

Keep your originals. The IRS is known for misplacing documents, and if your auditor loses anything pertinent to your case, you will have to produce it again. Provide only copies to auditors and keep your originals.

Seek professional help. Although it’s not necessary, you might want to consider enlisting the services of a professional tax preparer. Accountants understand the audit process and know how the IRS operates; therefore, having one on your side can improve your chances of surviving the audit with as little damage as possible.

No one wants to face an IRS audit. Unfortunately, many people do, any you might be one of them. Follow these tips to get through your audit and make the process as painless as possible.

About the Author: Jake Saechao is a full-time tax accountant who knows how stressful receiving an audit notice can be. At the end of a long day he enjoys sipping a cup of oolong tea, searching www.goldenmoontea.com for new blends, and simply trying to forget about the numbers running through his head.